Manitoba's Independent Investigation Unit has determined that police officers acted appropriately during and attempted traffic stop near St. Malo that resulted in a fatality last November.

Members of the Winnipeg Police Service were in St. Malo on November 2, 2015 investigating the death of a 49 year old Winnipeg woman that had happened three days earlier. Investigators had identified the woman's estranged husband, Kevin Runke as a person of interest in her death.

While in St. Malo the officers identified a vehicle registered to the Runke and decided to stop the vehicle. The officers activated their emergency lights and siren but the suspect vehicle continued at a normal speed for five kilometres before suddenly veering off the road, through a ditch and barbed wire fence, into a field, and came to rest in a wooded area.

Once back-up arrived, officers approached the vehicle and found the estranged husband and lone occupant of the vehicle deceased with a sawed-off 12 gauge shotgun between his legs.

The Independent Investigation Unit examined investigation files including a medical examiner's report and autopsy results, radio transmissions between the police vehicle and the WPS Communication Centre, and video surveillance footage from an area residence.

The report found that the suspect discharged his shotgun while driving, causing his own death and that the actions of the police were careful and appropriate in the circumstances.

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